Domain Redirect

[roydovaston]

I've just bought the .com version of my .co.uk domain. I had to wait for it to drop because it was registered by some domain parking company who tried selling it back to me for a ridiculous amount. Anyway, i didn't pay the extortionate rate that was being asked, waited, it dropped and i bought it!

Here's the scenario. I own the .co.uk, all of our SEO efforts have been at the .co.uk and the web site has been at the .co.uk address for the last 3.5 years.

Now I own the .com and want to direct all of the .com traffic to the .co.uk, how can I do this without harming the .co.uk. (I do want to keep the .co.uk as the primary site).

I've heard of people using 301 redirects but i think this is if you're moving domain so i'm not sure that applies.

I also heard if i just put a forwarder on the .com i might damage my SEO on the .co.uk.

Could anyone clear this up for me?

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Personalised Shot Glass

 

[Edwin]

Point the .com domain to the same IP address as the .co.uk (assuming you have a dedicated IP address for the website)

Then:-
A) Set up a 301 redirect in the .htaccess file to map any traffic going to the .com to the equivalent page on the .co.uk
B) Go into Google Webmaster Tools and verify the .com domain, then put in a domain move instruction pointing the .com to the .co.uk

 

[daleduan]

This has been an issue and I'm not really sure Google's final answer on this. Anyways, I think the links below will help you decide what to choose:

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=93633

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=83105

http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/021832.html

 

[roydovaston]

Point the .com domain to the same IP address as the .co.uk (assuming you have a dedicated IP address for the website)

Then:-
A) Set up a 301 redirect in the .htaccess file to map any traffic going to the .com to the equivalent page on the .co.uk
B) Go into Google Webmaster Tools and verify the .com domain, then put in a domain move instruction pointing the .com to the .co.uk

Thanks Edwin,

I do not have a dedicated IP address. Sounds like a complicated task!

I do not actually want to stop using the .co.uk, in fact the .co.uk is still going to be the primary site. The .com is really just because someone might type it in.

Do you suggest any alternative methods considering i do not have a dedicated IP address?

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Personalised Shot Glasses

 

[Blossom]

Try domain mapping - your host should offer it.

 

[roydovaston]

Try domain mapping - your host should offer it.

Thanks -I'm with Heart, i'll check out the control panel.

 

[daleduan]

URL redirection will do. You don't need to have a dedicated server. Or you may edit the .htaccess of your site then redirect to the .com domain.